Jackson County Central's first taste of back-to-back championships (1999, 2000) as a co-op of Southwest Star Concept of Okabena faded as the Huskies attempted to survive on their own. For the next seven years the program restructured itself under the guidance of Randy Baker, who began to ask much more of his wrestlers.

Wrestling is no longer just a seasonal sport at Jackson County . Training was also amplified to reach certain standards. The Huskies have won four of the past five team titles.

"It's a tremendous amount of work," Baker said. "I'm sure it's like that with the highest-level hockey programs and basketball programs. They demand a little bit more at that level."

Being recognized as "pretty good" is no longer adequate for Baker, Vancura and the two other top-seeded Huskies, Eliot Jurries (132 pounds) and Luke Norland (152 pounds). There is a lot of "pretty good," they said, but not many Simleys or Apple Valleys.

Jackson County Central is 23-2, having lost to Class 2A power Simley and to a ranked team from Iowa.